Your health. The story is that Vortigern was invited to dine at the house of Hengist, when Rowena, the hosts daughter, brought a cup of wine which she presented to their royal guest, saying, Was hæl, hlaford cyning (Your health, lord king). (See WASSAIL.)

1

William of Malmesbury says the custom took its rise from the death of young King Edward the Martyr, who was traitorously stabbed in the back while drinking a cup of wine presented to him by his mother Elfrida.

2

Drinking healths. The Romans adopted a curious fashion of drinking the health of their lady-loves, and that was to drink a bumper to each letter of her name. Hudibras satirises this custom, which he calls spelling names with beer-glasses (part ii. chap. 1).